Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the University
of Arkansas and the U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Agricultural Research Service, collected data in 2004 to determine
the occurrence of pharmaceuticals and other organic
wastewater constituents, including many constituents of emerging
environmental concern, in selected streams in northern
Arkansas. Samples were collected in March and April 2004
from 17 sites located upstream and downstream from wastewater-
treatment plant effluent discharges on 7 streams in northwestern
Arkansas and at 1 stream site in a relatively undeveloped
basin in north-central Arkansas. Additional samples were
collected at three of the sites in August 2004. The targeted
organic wastewater constituents and sample sites were selected
because wastewater-treatment plant effluent discharge provides
a potential point source of these constituents and analytical
techniques have improved to accurately measure small amounts
of these constituents in environmental samples.

At least 1 of the 108 pharmaceutical or other organic
wastewater constituents was detected at all sites in 2004, except
at Spavinaw Creek near Maysville, Arkansas. The number of
detections generally was greater at sites downstream from
municipal wastewater-treatment plant effluent discharges
(mean = 14) compared to sites not influenced by wastewatertreatment
plants (mean = 3). Overall, 42 of the 108 constituents
targeted in the collected water-quality samples were detected.
The most frequently detected constituents included caffeine,
phenol, para-cresol, and acetyl hexamethyl tetrahydro naphthalene.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract

Introduction

Purpose and Scope

Description of Study Area and its Fishes

Methods

Occurrence of Pharmaceuticals and Other Organic Wastewater Constituents

Summary

References

Figures

Map showing study area with water-quality sampling site locations in northern Arkansas